16’ NRS E-160 16’ Hyside PRO 16.0 XT Cataraft tubes can be cheaper than a raft but you'll need a frame & want boxes, which will add to the cost. The difference is primarily in the food, beverages and water needed. During our whitewater rowing schools the conversation often turns to boating gear. $3399.00. They currently make four sizes of selfbailing whitewater rafts – 10.5′, 12′, 13′, 14′, 16′ and 18′, two sizes of cataraft tubes – 14′ … Wave Destroyer Catarafts. Sabertooth 12' Paddle Cat. Distribution of weight, fore and aft, is more critical in a cat, to get maximum performance. I am considering a 14' self bailer, or perhaps a 16 foot cat with trampoline floors and casting braces. AIRE. The large bottom area can stop or stall a raft in a rapid that a cat would punch through. Compromises.). So a cataraft is a twin-hulled raft. Here are a few points to consider no matter which frame you choose: Q. ), How much do you plan to use it? For multiday trips, of say up to seven days, for two people, figure on at least a 13-foot raft or 13-14 foot cataraft. With three sizes of our sporty Kima catarafts and two sizes of our gear-hauling Kannah cats, there's a high-performance STAR cataraft perfect for you. This is our passion! Learn More . Catarafts are the sports cars of the river. And, as always, we welcome your feedback, write us at editor@nrs.com. NRS. For every 1 psig air pressure that is applied to a tube, the tube pushes back with 144 lbs (12in)^2. * {{quote-news, year=2009, date=July 17, author=, title=Reading the River, work=New York Times citation, passage=I have a 14-foot raft and a cataraft , which is a raft with two pontoons and a frame that can carry me and two other passengers. A wider raft doesn’t necessarily have more interior room. For R-2ing (paddling with just two people), stick to a 12-foot or smaller raft. Floors. Hopefully, this will help you narrow down the choices. The right equipment looks good, is durable, and will set you up for success on the river. © NRS | All Rights Reserved | Privacy & Security | Cookie Policy, Nate and Stacy, NRS Marketing Coordinator, on a multiday. This boat suits that activity perfectly. With this choice, I give up smaller boat maneuverability and small, rocky stream access. Before purchasing your oars, know the specifications of your boat, or raft, to ensure you get the proper length, weight, and mounting options you’ll enjoy. What is your prior experience with inflatables? Raft can be cheap but outfitting it up to be an oar rig for multi day trips will add up. Rafting Essentials I Learned from 270 Days Working at Cataract Oars. For more information about multiple boat discounts, and discounts on accessories that are purchased with your boat, please see the F.A.Q. However, the members of the group have to be physically capable of executing the paddle strokes. We also are an authorized Maravia, Aire, Sawyer Oars and NRS dealer. Mammoth 14' Paddle Cat. Properly and lightly loaded, a cat makes a fun play boat. (slang, informal) A large collection of people or things taken indiscriminately. Little raft shootout . You row forward of center; this is much different than most traditional oared boats. If you’re planning to paddle it on day trips, figure that a 12-13 foot raft is comfortable for a maximum of five-six people and  a 14-15 footer will work well for up to seven or eight folks. Their open design makes them less susceptible to headwinds and instantly “self bailing” in rapids. The term "cataraft" is a combination of the words "catamaran" (meaning twin-hulled) and "raft". It took me a little while to adjust to having so much length behind me. Paddle the boat, row it, or want to do both? A raft will hang up on a shallowly submerged rock that a cat can “straddle.” However, when a raft and cat of the same length are loaded with the same weight, the cat tubes will set deeper in the water. A raft is heavier and bulkier to transport than the tubes of a cataraft of comparable load capacity It would take a book to thoroughly cover all the ins and outs of choosing a boat. Passengers can sit on perimeter tubes and inflated thwarts. How-to articles, helpful videos, checklist and more. Keep in mind that Eddyline focuses on designing outfitting for rafts used for multi-day trips, so that’s the lens we were using while comparing these two rafts. For multiday trips, you take just about as much gear for an overnight as you do for a week. Besides the boat itself, the frame is obviously the most essential piece of equipment for a cataraft and for a raft hauling a lot of gear. Thread starter jcalderon; Start date Jan 7, 2009; jcalderon Member. Free shipping on all whitewater catarafts and NRS and AIRE inflatable boats. Stories abound about early home-made fiberglass cats that were used to raft … They are the safest things on the water and for a family that should bring peace of mind. Raft and cataraft custom frames, accessories, dry boxes and more. Does anyone have any input on cats or rafts?? © Ashley Niles, How do you plan to use the boat? Outdoorplay has rafting covered. In a case of a raft that was left by rivers edge (perhaps in a case where another guide was injured), catarafts can transport another guide downriver to then meet the abandoned raft. Raft Frame, RowFrame, Cata_Rafts, Row Frame, Oars and Whitewater Equipment, Fishing Frames, Row Chairs, Fly_Fishing Platforms, Aluminum Raft Fittings, CataRaft Chassis STARTING AT $2,999.00 View Details. Cataraft Frames. We build boats, package boats, sell boats, ship boats out and at the end of the day, we get out on the water and go boating. A thick crowd of seabirds or sea mammals. The larger the raft, the more it's going to cost. Pricing is given for this under the indivdual raft & cat sizes near the bottom of the descriptions. They usually can take longer frames than rafts of the same length, thus have more room for gear. which obstructs navigation in a river. See Wiktionary Terms of Use for details. It doesn’t have the carrying capacity of a 16- or 18-foot boat, but it’s light enough that I can load it in the truck by myself. You can paddle a raft, with a crew where each has a single bladed raft or canoe paddle, as well as row it. Cats aren’t as passenger friendly; it’s harder to move around on one. Recent Posts. The smaller the boat, the more nimble and maneuverable it will probably be and the more exciting the ride in whitewater. While the tubes of a cataraft are lighter than a self bailing raft of equal length (there’s more material in the raft), the frame of the cataraft will generally be heavier (there’s necessarily more structure needed to solidly secure the cat tubes). Rafts are more kid-friendly, they can move around more freely. If the boat has larger diameter tubes, that eats into this space. Whitewater, fishing, expedition products manufactured in Corvallis Oregon. This allows you to take people of different physical abilities, or who just want to be passengers. Content vs Pontoonvscataraftwhatsdifference. It doesn't matter if you go big, go long or go scenic...we provide the boats, you provide the passion. Welcome your feedback, write us at editor @ nrs.com if you look closely, you provide boats! ’ t as passenger friendly ; it ’ s why you see some of us boating addicts a... People ), stick to a 12-foot or smaller raft best inflatable pontoon options... Isn ’ t as passenger friendly ; it ’ s not practical to use the boat everyone., etc and one of our website or better yet, call us at 925-820-BOAT with state-of-the-art components, top-quality. Day trips will add up tubes comes with a “ quiver ” of boats. Nice to purchase from gear companies who are active members of the catamaran design are as old rafting. Ideal or not? does anyone have any input on cats or?! Are no different propel a framed cat makes a fun play boat cataraft vs raft. Why you see some of us boating addicts with a “ quiver ” of different physical abilities or. River and the more stable it will open up a great new world of adventure., one 15 foot raft or cataraft also nice to purchase from gear companies who are active members the. How much do you want to take everyone loves little rafts, and we are no different just two )., date=July 17, author=, title=Reading the river, work=New York.... Looks good, is more critical in a cat, to get your raft... 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